Are broken, lifeless, and misshapen trees ruining your beautiful garden? If yes, then they need pruning.
While trees enhance the beauty of your yard, they require maintenance and some care. Leaving trees unpruned may put you, your family, guests, and pets’ safety at stake. Whether you live in the woods or love growing trees on your property, trimming them is important for their beauty and our safety.
However, trimming trees is a challenging task, and doing it in the wrong season will waste your precious time and energy. Now, the question is, “when is the best time to trim trees?”
Well, we’ve curated this guide to answer your queries. So, take a seat and keep reading!
When Is The Best Time Of The Year To Prune Trees?
Honestly speaking, there isn’t any perfect time for removing diseased, damaged, or dead branches. However, most people think that fall is the best season for pruning trees, particularly in places having four seasons. Meanwhile, some believe late winter is the right time to do the job.
Nevertheless, trimming during mid to late winter is considered the right season for pruning trees. Doing it in the dormant season will promote new growth as the water starts warming. That’s because there are fewer leaves after fall, making it easy for gardeners to remove tree limbs that are damaged or require removal.
Pruning Trees During The Spring Season
If you’re someone who loves spring cleaning, you might be wondering about trimming the fruit trees or diseased branches during the spring season. The good news is that you can clean your garden along with the home.
But, before you grab pruning shears, here are a few things that you must keep in mind. Even though most people prefer trimming sap-producing plants such as maple trees in winters, we suggest doing it during early summer. That’s because the plants bleed excessive sap in the cold, which is why it is best to trim them in spring to avoid the mess.
Besides fruit and sap-producing trees, spring is the best time to prune spring-blooming trees and shrubs. Rhododendrons, Forsythia, Viburnum, and Lilacs are some of the shrubs you must trim during late spring. Not to forget, the best time to prune crape myrtle is the fall, as it results in more blossoms. Nevertheless, make sure you start pruning them when their flowers wither.
Pruning During Summer
Pruning trees during the summer season is a big no-no! That’s because fresh cuts can attract disease-causing insects that cause unwanted damage to the trees.
While most trees shouldn’t be trimmed during the summer, some exceptions are nectarines, almonds, apricots, plums, and peaches. You should prune these trees only during the warmer months of summer.
For those who don’t know, let us tell you that the deadly silver leaf attacks these plants throughout the late fall and spring. So, if you prune these species during summer, it will decrease the chances of infection.
Pruning Trees In Fall Season
As already mentioned, the dormant season is the best time for tree pruning because when the large tree limbs appear shaky, the leaves start to fall. In short, late fall is the right time to prune the trees and continue it as long as the temperature is below 40 degrees. Once it is over 40 degrees for a lengthy period, know that the pruning season has ended.
If you’re a newbie gardening enthusiast, let us tell you that pruning tree branches in hot seasons can harm the tree. This means if you prune a tree during high temperatures, new growth will come about and might cause damage to the tree.
Long story short, the trick to pruning during fall depends upon the right timing; late fall and early spring or the dormant period is the perfect time to prune trees. Also, here’s a pro tip – make sure you remove dead branches before the first snowfall, or the branches will fall due to the snow’s weight.
Late Winter Pruning Of Trees
If you notice cracked barks, browning of broadleaved evergreens, broken limbs, or loss of twigs or barks during winters, then it’s time to begin your trimming project. That’s because all the trees are dormant and are ready to be trimmed.
While most summer-blooming shrubs form buds in spring, pruning them in cold weather will encourage new growth. That said, the winter months are the best time to prune fruit trees so that you can expect a full bloom till the summer arrives. So, grab your shears, sharpen them and start pruning the dormant trees.
When To Prune, By Tree Type
While routine pruning works wonders for removing weak and dying branches damaged by insect infestation, every pruner must know the right time to prune trees growing in his garden. If pruned during late winter, it increases new growth and closes wounds before the growth spurt.
For instance, trimming oak trees in the wrong season can result in oak wilt. Here’s when you should trim certain trees:
Young Trees
It goes without saying that proper pruning can make your trees strong and shape them better. That’s why if you trim young trees regularly, you’ll have to prune them less frequently when they mature.
As a rule of thumb, we suggest consulting professionals regarding trimming trees as they’ll let you know how frequently you must trim those trees.
Deciduous Trees
For those who don’t know much, let us tell you that most deciduous trees should be trimmed during late fall to winter. Since these tree species shed leaves every year, you can see their framework during the dormant season.
Flowering Trees
Want to know when is the best time to prune flowering trees? Well, we suggest you do it right after blooming. Nevertheless, routine pruning can be done anytime you want. Also, make sure you keep in mind the rules and needs for trimming the tree you grow in the garden.
New Trees
- Annually inspect for trimming requirements
- Tree trimming is necessary to keep them safe from diseases, healthy, and maintain their beauty, so trim them regularly.
- Large limbs mean large wounds which are challenging to seal, so don’t wait for the limbs to grow.
Signs Your Trees Need Pruning
If you’ve just ventured into the world of gardening, knowing when to prune trees is slightly tricky. Besides beauty, trees are pruned for safety reasons, which is why regular pruning is important. So, if you’re unsure whether you must trim garden trees or not, here are some signs of easing the confusion.
Damaged Limbs
One of the telltale signs your trees need pruning is their damaged limbs. Trees suffering from health issues must be trimmed immediately, or it will spread the disease to other plants, damaging them.
Moreover, most trees don’t die from diseases which means you’ll only have to chop off the diseased limb, improving the overall health of the tree. So, whenever you spot a tree with a damaged limb, make sure you remove it then and there, or it might harm the rest of the trees.
Misshapen Tree
Did you know that some trees grow in the wrong way, which is unhealthy for them? If you notice any such tree on your property, grab the shears and trim the branches, or it will cause damage to your property.
Trees Damaged By Storm
If your trees have become victim to hail storms or strong gusty winds, you must take a look at them, for there may be broken limbs that require trimming. Despite being strong, the elements can damage trees, so ensure checking your garden after heavy rains or winds.
Final Words
With that, it’s time to wrap our guide. Whether you’re a professional gardener or a newbie, knowing the right time to prune trees is essential. The last thing you’d want is to destroy the beauty of your garden by trimming the trees in the wrong season.
However, if you’re not sure how to prune the trees, don’t hesitate to reach out to tree service professionals. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Also, make sure you use sharp, good-quality tree trimming tools so you can pull off the task in a breeze.
Need professional help when it comes to tree services in Hesperia CA? Contact us and get a quote now.